Zoom video conference on MBA

IngerMan

IngerMan

macrumors 68020
I hear Zoom is very inefficient and very taxing on systems. It certainly has become extremely popular in this recent pandemic.

I have read their website on system requirements and from a few posts, is it true the 2020 MBA i3 can not run Zoom for multiple users meetings?

Would users experience using Zoom give Feed back on their system and how it performs.
 
I used Zoom for multiple user meetings on my i3 MBA. You can't use custom backgrounds, so if that's a dealbreaker, there's that info.

Up front: Zoom is garbage on Windows and MacOS compared to programs like MS Teams or Facetime, but as you say, it's popular right now.

On the 2020 i5 MBA - Zoom kicked the CPU temps to 100 within a few minutes, the fans to max (8000rpm), but I didn't notice any slow down on the system. Zoom made the underside of the case noticeably warm and, to me, uncomfortable. Best used on a desk.

On the 2020 i3 MBA - Zoom kicked the CPU temps to 80-ish, and the fans were at a middle ground (4000-5000rpm). Also didn't notice any slow down of the system, the underside of the case was cooler than the i5 so I could comfortably use it in my lap.

On both I was on five-six person calls.

Hope that helps.
 
I've used Zoom on my 2017 model with no performance issues at all. Well-reported security issues are another matter - as is often the case with all software that's popular - though I hear a recent update was supposed to address some of that. That said, I've deleted the app (and found remnants of software in places it has no place being), and have noted the alternatives out there. Of particular interest to me is the corporate-grade Cisco Webex, which has a recently expanded Free version. Facetime's zooming (ironically) active screens is all a bit too seasick-making for me - I prefer a static grid.
 
Bolanders said:
Simply not true. While his experience may be true in his case there are numerous i5 owners who have a cool quiet experience so far.
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New i5 owner here. Mine finished restoring from TM backup last night, left it open overnight, Activity Monitor suggests it's still doing some indexing and photos is doing some stuff.

So far today - with photos and email and safari and messages open - I'm reading 94F with an IR thermometer at the 6Y7 junction on the keyboard. System is silent.

Zoom meeting between MBA and my phone to test and topcase temp (same spot as above) is running about 105F with barely audible fan noise -- hard to hear over the dishwasher upstairs. Was 107F when screen sharing. Near shift buttons and space bar temps around 83F. Ran the meeting a good 20 minutes.

Overall the experience was fine on my i5. I expect to have a six to eight participant call this weekend and will see how it works out.

Before this covid stuff I'd never used Zoom. Now I just use it for a couple things on weekends. I do Webex and Teams on my work provided computer (PC) and its fan gets way louder than the MBA has yet to get.
 
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I found a setting that seems to reduce CPU utilization significantly when sharing by limiting screen share frame rate. In Zoom, go to Settings, then to Share Screen, at the bottom right click Advanced. Check the first box and limit your screen share to 4 frames per second. It seems to be helping but would like to hear from others. I'm on a 2020 Air i5/8/512.
 
Had a ZOOM video conference (without screen sharing) for 1 hour with 200+ participants most with video/microphone enabled.
There was no problem with thermals or fan noise. Temps are 70-80C and 2700 RPM.

Air 2020 i5/8/256.
 

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deeddawg said:
I expect to have a six to eight participant call this weekend and will see how it works out.
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Look forward to hearing how that works out. That's pretty much my only concern- I have to start teaching a class online soon that may have ~15-20 participants and I'll be screen sharing.
 
a0c said:
Look forward to hearing how that works out. That's pretty much my only concern- I have to start teaching a class online soon that may have ~15-20 participants and I'll be screen sharing.
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Had the zoom meeting with six other participants this morning. Full 35-40 minute duration.

Never heard the fan come on, never felt any out of the ordinary heat.

No screen sharing. I’ve read that changing the screen share setting to 4fps is helpful.

Activity monitor screen cap just before the end of the meeting:

Screen Shot 2020-05-03 at 10.34.57 AM.png
 
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Another Zoom meeting this morning - five participants total - 40 minutes duration.

My i5/16/512 remained silent throughout, it also did not get warm. Even using a virtual background for a while just for fun.
 
deeddawg said:
Another Zoom meeting this morning - five participants total - 40 minutes duration.

My i5/16/512 remained silent throughout, it also did not get warm. Even using a virtual background for a while just for fun.
Click to expand...
I found zoom to be more efficient than MS teams (which I'm forced to use). Zoom held my device at around 70deg with no noticeable fan noise, teams just destroyed it. @deeddawg I'd be interested to hear if you've had any experience with Teams as a meeting platform and provide some feedback.
 
Loog said:
I found zoom to be more efficient than MS teams (which I'm forced to use). Zoom held my device at around 70deg with no noticeable fan noise, teams just destroyed it. @deeddawg I'd be interested to hear if you've had any experience with Teams as a meeting platform and provide some feedback.
Click to expand...

I use Teams regularly on my work computer (lenovo) yet haven't had any need to use it on my personal systems (mac).

Since my lenovo tends to spin its fan at the slightest provocation, I have no real sense as to whether it's Teams or something else that does it when I'm in a Teams video conference.
 
I have the i5 model and have used it for various Zoom video calls....to be fair the most participants I have had is 9. None the less, the cooling fans did not kick on nor did i notice the case becoming warm. I do not think anyone who buys any configuration of the 2020 MBA has anything to worry about as far as Zoom goes...
 
Loog said:
I found zoom to be more efficient than MS teams (which I'm forced to use). Zoom held my device at around 70deg with no noticeable fan noise, teams just destroyed it. @deeddawg I'd be interested to hear if you've had any experience with Teams as a meeting platform and provide some feedback.
Click to expand...

I use Teams on daily bases with my Air base and have so far never herd the fans or had any other issues with it.
 
4FPS didn’t seem to help me. My 2020 i5 Air runs the fans full blast any time I’m in a zoom call whether content is being shared or not. It wasn’t this bad at first but has gotten worse recently.

Activity monitor shows total cpu utilization is between 20-30% while using zoom so I’m surprised the fans are cranked. The Air is quiet using office or any other apps. Just zoom :-(
 
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